Chapter 44 She Escaped
Lorenzo’s POV
Gideon’s hands gripped the wheel too tightly, overtaking any car that dared stand in our way. I sat in the backseat, fingers drumming restlessly against my lap, tension coiling in my chest.
I should have been focused on the mission, yet my mind couldn’t shake the thought of leaving Evelyn with only my men. She was stubborn….too stubborn, but clever. That’s why I had assigned Diego, one of my strongest, most trusted men after Gideon. Still…..she was smart. She could slip away if he wasn’t watchful.
“Boss, we’re close,” Gideon’s voice cut through my thoughts.
I straightened, eyes scanning the road. Almost time, I told myself.
Then the memories hit me. The image of Evelyn clinging to Nolan like he was some kind of trophy, her savior. I hadn’t planned to stop at a slap. I wanted to teach him a lesson he would never forget, until Gideon came in. His whispered words fed the satisfaction I needed to temper the rage burning inside me.
One of President Jones’ men had been captured, but what made it even more interesting was the call I received from Jack. It was the very fool who had pulled the trigger on me.
Nothing could be more fun than watching him have a thirst of the few moments I lay on that ground, lifeless, with the thought that my mission on earth to find my Delilah had just ended.
Our car stopped outside the unfinished building, two of my men stationed at the entrance, guns held firm. The place was familiar, my secret place for times I had to take out a man without my powers.
After what happened last time, I couldn’t bring myself to take Eve along with me for things like this, so I decided to do it all by myself.
Jack, the man of the hour, emerged first. Gideon had placed the team under his command, and he carried the weight of it in every step. His face was a mask of hardened determination, eyes cold and unwavering. His knuckles were raw and bleeding, proof of the torture they had given that bastarded.
“Lucifer.” Jack tilted his head low, stretching out his hand.
I took it. “Well done, Jack.”
Gideon stepped forward, exchanging a brief, businesslike handshake with Jack. “Where is he?”
“He’s inside,” Jack replied. “We picked him up at a club earlier, but couldn’t reach the president. Security around the White House has been tightened. Still…. don’t worry.”
Gideon’s lips curved into a hard smile. “We’ll hit him on a day he never expects.” His voice was calm, but heavy with promise.
“Good,” I said. “Let’s deal with his little swine for now.”
Jack led the way. The inside stretched with different rooms and broken walls, something that could convince anyone the building had long been forgotten. Only a few of my trusted men knew this particular place. Gideon followed, holding the door open for me.
And there he was. Hung upside down, chains binding him like every traitor before him. Broad shoulders, red hair, dark eyes, the same face, except he’d been beaten down beyond recognition. Clothes torn, blood dripping from his nose. Typical Jack. He must have done the job himself.
When the man saw us, there was still defiance in his eyes, fury burning in them, but fading beneath the weight of exhaustion.
Satisfaction swayed inside me, my lips twisted with a dark smirk.
“Bring him down,” I said coolly.
Gideon signaled sharply. In seconds, they yanked him to the floor. His knees hit with a thud, wrists twisted behind him, chains clinking and snapping with each move. Guns trained on him, ready for the slightest twitch.
I circled him, inhaling the fear he tried to hide.
“If you think you can use me to get to the president, you’re wrong,” he growled.
I let out a bitter laugh. “You’re tougher than I imagined.” My fingers brushed his rough chin. “But I doubt you know who you’re standing before.”
He jerked his head away, spitting blood onto the floor, chest rising and falling in defiance.
“What’s your name?” I asked calmly.
Silence.
Gideon pressed the barrel of his gun to the man’s skull. “Talk. Now.”
“Steel,” he croaked, voice trembling.
“Interesting,” I murmured.
“And, No. I didn’t bring you here to take me to President Jones. I can do that myself. You’re here because I want a pound of flesh.” I leaned over him, breath grazing his skin. “You are here because I want to take a pound of my flesh.”
His eyes widened, fear crawled over him. He couldn’t hide it anymore. I could sense it in his shallow breaths.
I laughed, cold and cruel. “After today, in your next life, you’ll never pull a gun on the devil. You know why?”
He fell back, head snapping.
“Because the devil never dies.”
“I’ll make sure I give you a death that leaves a scar even hell cannot heal.” I straightened, watching his body tense.
“Please…..Please don’t kill me,” he begged, reaching for my hand. I stepped back before he could touch me. “I just got married. She’s pregnant! Please…..spare my life for the baby!”
His cries echoed through the empty rooms.
Since I no longer had my powers, I had to do this the natural way. One finger flicked up, and my men sprang into motion. Two of them shoved a chair across the floor and yanked Steel into it. His voice climbed, cracking, pleading with every syllable. They slammed chains around his wrists, clinking as they locked him tight. Fingers stiffening, useless against the metal.
I took the gun from Jack, aiming at Steel’s legs. Two sharp cracks echoed as bullets tore into his ankles.
“Ah!” he howled, boots scraping the floor as pain ripped through him.
“That’s just the beginning,” I said, stepping back to watch the agony settle in.
After a short moment, I went for him again. He was already red, half alive, barely breathing.
“No, man. You don’t have to die now. The main fun is about to begin,” I whispered, letting the words sink in.
He struggled to keep his head up. “Please…..”
I chuckled dryly. Hearing him plead was laughable. The same man who’d pulled the trigger on me with no mercy now begging for his. Pathetic.
I took the blade from Jack. What was the fun of ending a life without leaving evidence? Steel’s sobs rose again. “Please….. Make a deal with me….anything…. Don't kill me!”
I tightened my grip and aimed at his neck.
My eyes darkened, veins stretching out from my neck, hands gripping tight on the knife before I lifted it and slit his throat in the middle of his plea.
Blood gushed, his head fell, and finally, his body hit the floor.
I didn't tower around to watch him. I didn't have to. His death was too easy.
“Package his head and send it to Jones,” I ordered, moving out. “Burn the body.” My commands cut through the room.
We stepped outside, a cold breeze hit my skin, sharp enough to make me flinch. The scent of blood clung to my clothes.
Gideon stepped forward. “Boss,” he called, holding out my phone. “A call from Diego.”
My chest sank. Evelyn. Hope nothing had happened to her.
I swiped the screen. “Diego?”
“Lucifer… boss,” he panted.
“Speak up. What’s wrong?!”
“She’s gone….. Ms. Martins….. we can’t find her.”
The world froze around me.
“What do you mean you can’t find her?”
“I’m sorry, boss. She insisted on privacy in the restroom after you left…. she escaped through the window.”
“You’re a big fool,” I grunted.
“What of the guy? Nolan?!”
“He’s still in our custody, sir.”
“Hold him down. Don’t let him escape.” I ended the call, turned to Gideon.
“Eve has escaped. We go after her.” He stiffened, then nodded.
Orders flew. “Jack stays behind with five men. Clean the job, send the package to President Jones. The rest. Move!” Gideon fired.
The team scrambled to the cars. Gideon yanked a door open. I followed, engines roaring to life as we hunted Evelyn.
Fear slithered through me.
Fuck. This girl will not be the end of me.